In the Yali of Gusu Mansion, after Zhang Shun, the prefect of Gusu, retired from the court, he returned to the back hall with his confession, threw the confession directly on the table, sat on the chair, and his face was very ugly.

Shi Maodian, the master who followed him in, touched his beard, and opened his mouth thoughtfully: "This woman, it is impossible for her to turn herself in for no reason, and it is still the lady of the Suiping Marquis Mansion who lifts her hair, unless she is tired and crooked." She also has sons and grandchildren. Behind this matter, there must be someone to instruct. Either it was a temptation, or it was the life of her son and grandson who forced her to come. Nine times out of ten, it's the latter. ”

He sat down next to Zhang Shun and poured him a cup of tea: "So Dong Weng don't have to worry, and wait for someone to come to the door." ”

Zhang Shun drank all the tea, shook his head and sighed: "What worries me is not this, but being stirred into this kind of thing for no reason." ”

Shi Maodian nodded, and also sighed: "Who said it wasn't." ”

There are countless private affairs in the door of the mansion. Generally, few people will come to report to the official, after all, people want to be faced. But this person directly called someone to the yamen and shook out a private matter that had been in the past fourteen years.

The matter is also related to the Suiping Marquis Mansion in the capital.

Zhang Shun was a Jinshi in the middle of sixteen years ago, although his family was wealthy and a little powerful, but he had little intersection with the noble circle in the capital.

The most headache for these officials in the judgment is Xungui. Some of these people have a lot of power, and some have empty titles and no real power. But even if you don't have real power, your connections are intertwined, and you don't know which adult or even their top boss in Beijing is a relative. annoyed them, and they didn't know how their black gauze hat fell off.

"No matter who the person behind this is, when it comes to Xungui, Dong Weng must be cautious and cautious in handling the case, and would rather delay it for a long time than make a decision." Shi Maodian persuaded.

Zhang Shun nodded: "That's the only way." When the person behind me came forward, I first wrote a letter to the teacher in Jingzhong, inquired about the situation, and then made a decision. ”

He sighed: "I'm afraid that the person behind me has made such a move, and he won't let us delay." ”

With that, he stood up, walked to the side room to change into civilian clothes, and waved his hand, "Let's go." Let's see who is behind this play. ”

Shi Maodian knew that if they didn't go out of the yamen, it would be inconvenient for the people behind them to find them; Only when they go out will they know who that person is.

Instead of guessing dumb riddles here, it's better to go out and meet the man.

After a few words, the two of them led two guards out of the yamen and walked aimlessly on the street.

Sure enough, in less than half a cup of tea, a person dressed as an entourage stepped forward and said to Zhang Shun: "This is Lord Zhang?" My grandfather invited the adults to the teahouse in front of him. ”

"Who is your grandfather?" Zhang Shun asked.

The man didn't speak, but handed Zhang Shun a note.

Zhang Shun unfolded it and looked at it, and the words "Lin'an Bozhu and Yu" were written on it.

The man was still worried that Zhang Shun didn't know his master, and said with a smile: "My grandfather works in the Ministry of Officials, I think the adults have heard of it?" ”

Zhang Shun nodded.

If Zhu Heyu was just an uncle, he might not know; But Zhu Heyu served in the ministry, so it was impossible for him not to know. The appointment, promotion, and evaluation of their magistrates are all in the hands of the officials.

It is a law that the Beijing official is one level higher than the local official, not to mention the official department yamen with a black gauze hat in his palm? Although Zhu Heyu is only a fifth-grade prefect, but a fourth-grade prefect like Zhang Shun, if there is no way, I am afraid that he will not be able to tie Zhu Heyu.

Knowing that the person behind him was a Beijing official of the Ministry of Officials, the bitterness in Zhang Shun's heart became even stronger. But whether things are tricky or not, he is bound to drink this cup of tea.

"Lead the way." Zhang Shun said to that person.

Shi Maodian has been following Zhang Shun as a master since he became an official, and the two have always acted very tacitly.

He ignored the man, but said to Zhang Shun: "Dong Weng, I haven't finished writing that urgent document yet, you go to tea, and I'll go back to the yamen to catch up with the official document." ”

"Okay, there you go." Zhang Shun nodded, then turned his head to the man, "Please." ”

The man didn't seem to care, and led Zhang Shun to the teahouse in front.

Shi Maodian walked back to the yamen slowly.

Until he walked into the yamen, there was no abnormality, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

In the past, although Shi Maodian would go with an unknown person like this, he would find an excuse to leave after knowing the identity of the other party, instead of going to the meeting with Zhang Shun. Behind them, in addition to the two courtyards and the little maid on the surface, there are also two courtyards pretending to be passers-by hidden nearby.

On the street just now, people came and went, Zhang Shun was still a local official, and many people knew him. Shi Maodian said that if he didn't go, it would be impossible for the other party to kidnap him and go with him.

Then he stays outside, and once Zhang Shun can't come back on time, or finds out that something is wrong, he can take measures to rescue him; Instead of following, he was caught all by people, and there was no one to report the news.

Once even he is quietly tied up after Zhang Shun leaves, the two hidden guards will also pass the news to the people who can rescue Zhang Shun.

Although the blue sky and the sun are clear, no one will eat the bear's heart and leopard gall and dare to kidnap the court officials, but the heart of defense is indispensable, and it is always a big mistake to be careful. Especially after the incident of a prefect being booby-trapped.

Back at the yamen, Shi Maodian sent soldiers to guard the front and back doors of the restaurant in disguise, and kept sending officials and guards to investigate, and asked them to pass on the news every once in a while, lest something happen to Zhang Shun.

Zhang Shun didn't let Shi Maodian worry for too long, and after only one meal, he came out of the teahouse, but he didn't go back to the front yamen, and after calling someone to inform Shi Maodian, he went home directly.

After receiving the message, Shi Maodian hurried to the back office of the government.

"How's that, sir?" As soon as he entered the door, Shi Maodian asked. saw Zhang Shun holding a wine cup, pouring wine into his mouth, and there were two appetizers on the table.

Shi Maodian knew that Zhang Shun was in trouble.

If it weren't for something difficult to decide, he wouldn't have drunk too much.

Shi Maodian's heart sank. He lifted the flask, poured a glass of wine into Zhang Shun's empty wine cup, and poured himself a glass by the way.

"Lord Zhu came to ask me for the Marquis of Suiping, and wanted me to submit the file to Dali Temple." He raised his eyes and looked at Shi Maodian, "Not long ago, Chengyin of the capital city dealt with a case, the daughter of the second room of the Hou Mansion of Suiping, and the daughter of a Xiucai in Xiaorong Village, Beining County, held each other's mistakes. ”

Shi Maodian frowned.

Na Wenpo said that she delivered the baby for Mrs. Hou and the second lady of Suiping Houfu, and at the behest of the second lady, she exchanged a baby boy in her twins with a baby girl born to the eldest lady. She felt guilty and had a troubled conscience, so she turned herself in.